University of Oklahoma Tobacco-Free Policy

Approved by the Board of Regents March 2012

The OU Board of Regents has established a campus Tobacco-Free policy consistent with state Executive Orders 2012-01 and 2013-43. All properties and facilities of the University of Oklahoma, regardless of campus or location, are free of tobacco, electronic cigarettes, and vaping devices.

Purpose

The purpose of this policy is to foster a healthier environment for students, faculty, staff and visitors on the University of Oklahoma campuses by minimizing tobacco use, which is the leading cause of death in Oklahoma and the United States. The policy is designed to prevent or reduce exposure of individuals to secondhand smoke, and to help reduce tobacco use among OU students and employees. The policy is not intended to be judgmental of individual lifestyle choice or to be punitive towards any individual or group.

This policy is subject to all applicable laws and regulations and recognizes exceptions contained therein, including an exception allowing tobacco use for religious or ceremonial purposes.

Policy

The use of all tobacco products including but not limited to cigarettes, cigars, pipes, smokeless tobacco, electronic cigarettes, and vaping devices is prohibited anywhere on university grounds or campuses.

The use of tobacco products, electronic cigarettes, and vaping devices is prohibited in any buildings or portion thereof owned, leased, operated by the University, including OU housing/apartments, athletic facilities, within any OU parking structure, in any vehicle owned or leased by the University, or on the OU grounds or campus, including but not limited to public or non-public areas, offices, restrooms, stairwells, driveways, sidewalks, etc.

This policy applies to all persons on campus, including but not limited to students, faculty, staff, contracted personnel, vendors, and all visitors to the OU campus. The policy applies to all University events.

The sale of tobacco products, electronic cigarettes, and vaping devices on university property is prohibited.

Communication of Policy

NO SMOKING/NO TOBACCO USE SIGNS shall be posted strategically throughout the campus and in OU facilities and vehicles as a reminder of the policy.

The Office of the Provost will ensure the OU faculty employment announcements and information provided to new faculty recruits and employees contain information about how the university environment is free of tobacco, electronic cigarettes, and vaping devices.

Human Resources will ensure that OU staff employment applications, both hard copy and online versions, contain information about how the university environment is free of tobacco, electronic cigarettes, and vaping devices, and that new employees receive information about this policy during new employee orientation.

The Office of the Vice President for Student Affairs will ensure that OU communication and information provided to prospective students and to new students includes information about how the university environment is free of tobacco, electronic cigarettes, and vaping devices.

The full text of the policy shall be available in faculty and staff handbooks, and on the OU website.

Compliance and Enforcement

Compliance with this policy by all students, employees, and visitors to the campus is expected based upon our commitment to a healthy environment on campus, and our responsibility to protect individuals from the adverse health effects of exposure to second hand smoke. This depends on the consideration and cooperation of both users and non-users of tobacco, electronic cigarettes, or vaping devices. All members of the university community share the responsibility of adhering to and enforcing the policy and have the responsibility for communicating the policy to visitors in a courteous and considerate manner. Any complaints should be brought to the attention of the appropriate university administrative personnel.

Non-compliance with this policy will be handled in the same manner as any other policy violation and is subject to the disciplinary process.

After receiving an initial warning and reminder of the policy, repeated violations of the policy will be subject to fines of $10 for the second violation of the policy and $50 for the third violation. An appeals process will be used similar to that used for appeals of parking fines.

Gaylord Family Oklahoma Memorial Stadium

The prevention of exposure to secondhand smoke for visitors to the stadium during football games or other events is a particular challenge due to the high density of people in a confined space. This makes it very difficult, if not impossible to avoid exposure to secondhand smoke for these individuals. Therefore, the stadium will be completely tobacco free during all events.